Air Force Base Hearing

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The U.S. Air Force is holding a hearing in Wichita to gauge public support for McConnell Air Force Base as it considers sites for a new fleet of refueling tankers.

The Wichita Eagle reports the Air Force in May named McConnell as the preferred site for 36 KC-46A tankers to be sited beginning in 2016. McConnell is already the world’s largest tanker base with 62 KC-135s.

The hearing is Tuesday evening at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex on the Wichita State University campus. More than 300 people showed up at a similar public hearing in April.

The siting process also requires an environmental impact study to make sure the base can accommodate the new aircraft. The results of the hearing will be included in the final 500-page draft impact study.